CLEVELAND — Donald Trump painted a dire portrait of a lawless, terrorized nation as he accepted the Republican presidential nomination here Thursday night, delivering a sweeping indictment of a feckless political and corporate class that he argued is thrusting the United States into a perilous decline.

Ivanka Trump waves and walks off the stage after introducing her father for his acceptance speech Thursday night at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
Associated Press/J. Scott Applewhite

Donald Trump addresses the crowd of delegates Thursday night at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Associated Press/John Locher

Donald Trump gives his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention on July 21. Associated Press/J. Scott Applewhite

Declaring that he alone has the leadership strength to secure the homeland and rejuvenate the economy, the billionaire real estate mogul offered himself as a “law and order” candidate and made a direct appeal to blue-collar Americans who have felt left behind in the 21st century.

“The forgotten men and women of our country – people who work hard but no longer have a voice: I am your voice,” Trump said in a long address to fired-up delegates on the closing night of the Republican National Convention.

Rather than moving to the political middle with an uplifting address, Trump punctuated the turbulent four-day convention with a heavy speech with simple declarations. And he focused intensively on the alleged dangers posed by immigrants and refugees, showing that on the biggest stage of his campaign he would not shy away from rhetoric that many minority voters find repulsive.

The tone of his prepared text was hard-edged – at times severe – and echoed the dark themes of Richard Nixon’s 1968 campaign. Trump is betting that general-election voters feel so beleaguered that they will heed his call for radical change.

Trump described the country as beset by illegal immigrants, some of them killers. The crowd chanted back at him, “Send them home,” and “Build the wall.” And Trump decried an increase in homicides in some cities.

“I have a message to every last person threatening the peace on our streets and the safety of our police: When I take the oath of office next year, I will restore law and order to our country. Believe me. Believe me,” he said.

DAUGHTER’S INTRODUCTION

Trump’s relentlessly gloomy tone was a jarring contrast to the sunny introduction delivered by his daughter Ivanka Trump, who portrayed him as a generous, magnanimous business executive who would be “the people’s champion” and “a fighter” who delivers results.

She said her father has been an advocate for women in his company and would do the same as president, saying that he supports equal pay for equal work and would change labor laws to help make quality child care affordable – all priorities of presumed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

Donald Trump laid out stark differences between his agenda and that of Clinton. He asserted that his rival is a “puppet” of corporations and elites, and that she would “keep our rigged system in place.”

Trump blamed Clinton directly for the past decade and a half of foreign operations that have wrought turmoil in the Middle East and cast the former secretary of state as a favor-trading, self-enriching agent of overseas powers.

“This is the legacy of Hillary Clinton: death, destruction, terrorism and weakness,” he said. “But Hillary Clinton’s legacy does not have to be America’s legacy.”

As Trump attacked Clinton, the attendees chanted, “Lock her up!” as they had for previous speakers. At one point, Trump tried to shush his supporters. He gestured “no” with his hands and declared that together they should beat her at the polls in November.

In virtually every policy realm, Trump vowed to put the country’s interests before any other – redirecting Washington’s gaze inward in an age of globalization.

“Americanism, not globalism, will be our credo,” he said. “As long as we are led by politicians who will not put America first, then we can be assured that other nations will not treat America with respect – the respect that we deserve. The American people will come first once again.”

A HIGH-STAKES SPEECH

Thursday’s address was the most consequential of Trump’s brief and remarkable political career. He strode onstage to the “Air Force One” theme song before an enormous screen displaying his name in huge gold letters.

The stakes were made higher by missteps and missed opportunities during the convention’s first three nights, putting pressure on the nominee to convince the general electorate that he has a credible and appealing vision for the nation’s future.

Throughout his remarks, Trump cast himself as a change agent and Clinton as a guardian of the status quo.

“I have joined the political arena so that the powerful can no longer beat up on people that cannot defend themselves,” he said.

Trump directly addressed some of the more controversial policy proposals of his candidacy, including his vague, newly formulated vow to temporarily ban people from any nation connected to terrorism from entering the United States.

“We don’t want them in our country,” Trump said. He added, “I only want to admit individuals into our country who will support our values and love our people. Anyone who endorses violence, hatred or oppression is not welcome in our country and never, ever will be.”

He also vowed, “We are going to defeat the barbarians of ISIS and we are going to defeat them fast,” referring to the Islamic State.

Earlier in the evening, Maricopa County (Arizona) Sheriff Joe Arpaio, one of the most polarizing figures in the immigration debate, vouched for Trump’s proposal to build a wall along the Mexican border.

He said, “Donald Trump will build the wall” – at which point the crowd chanted “Build the wall!” – “and restore law and order and keep drugs and illegal immigrants from entering our country.”

GAY SPEAKER BREAKS BARRIER

But another moment illustrated the swift evolution of some Republicans on social issues. Billionaire entrepreneur Peter Thiel said, “I am proud to be gay. I am proud to be a Republican. But most of all, I am proud to be an American” – the first to make such a declaration at a Republican convention. Thousands of delegates rose to their feet and cheered.

When Trump later referred to the recent massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and said he would “protect our LGBTQ citizens,” the crowd applauded loudly. Taking it in, Trump said, “As a Republican, I have to say, it is so nice to hear you cheering.”

Trump was under pressure to project unity for the fractured Republican Party, which was split anew by an extraordinary uproar Wednesday night on the convention floor. As it became clear that Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) would not endorse his former primary rival in his prime-time address, the crowd booed and jeered him until he exited the stage.

As speakers all week have done, Trump sought to rally Republicans to his cause with sharp and relentless attacks on Clinton and the Democratic Party.

“We cannot afford to be so politically correct anymore,” he said to enthusiastic cheers. “So if you want to hear the corporate spin, the carefully crafted lies and the media myths, the Democrats are holding their convention next week. But here, at our convention, there will be no lies. We will honor the American people with the truth, and nothing else.”

One of the loudest crowd responses came when Trump introduced his new running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who has strong support among evangelicals and other conservatives.

Trump was unquestionably the star of the final evening. Throughout the night, his family, friends and employees talked glowingly about his character and leadership style. In gauzy videos as well as speeches, they described him as a compassionate visionary with a connection to the common man and a drive to fix problems and finish projects.

“I truly believe Mr. Trump is America’s blue-collar billionaire,” said Jerry Falwell Jr., president of Liberty University. “He is down-to-earth. He loves America and the American people. He is a true patriot and a champion of the common man.”

REJECTING PARTY LABELS

At center stage was Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka Trump, who introduced herself as nonpartisan. “Like many of my fellow millennials, I do not consider myself categorically Republican or Democrat.”

She spoke passionately about her father’s competitive drive. “I have seen him fight for his family,” she said. “I have seen him fight for his employees, I have seen him fight for his company, and now I am seeing him fight for our country. It’s been the story of his life and, more recently, the spirit of his campaign.”

And she said her father “cannot stand to see” empty main streets and boarded-up factories, college graduates who are crippled by student debt and mothers who cannot afford the cost of child care.

“Other politicians see these hardships, see the unfairness of it all, and say, ‘I feel for you,’ ” she said, evoking former president Bill Clinton’s legendary displays of empathy. “Only my father will say, ‘I’ll fight for you.’ ”

Donald Trump picked up from his daughter by saying he is ready to go to work for the country.

“It’s time to deliver a victory for the American people,” he said. “But to do that, we must break free from the petty politics of the past. America is a nation of believers, dreamers and strivers that is being led by a group of censors, critics and cynics.”

He continued with an appeal to voters: “To every parent who dreams for their child, and every child who dreams for their future, I say these words to you tonight: I’m with you, and I will fight for you, and I will win for you.”

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this speech needed to be long. Trump needed to present a number of false and contradictory identities to the electorate, and that takes time. He was both a firebrand populist and a rock-ribbed Republican. He was an enemy of big business, and he swore to deregulate industry. He was compassionate toward all people – but he’ll build a wall to keep millions of people out. Trump also needed time to present an America that’s a study in contrasts … a desperate and dangerous dystopia that will become an Eden as soon as he is sworn into office. That’s Demagoguery 101: Terrify, then reassure. … And Trump’s eerily good at it. So says Richard Eskow, and I totally agree and will add that Trump is clearly a present danger.

JJFW

Obama and cronies have been the worst president that I can remember. The civil unrest, China and Russia with expanding boundaries and aggression. The expanding drug problem.
People with too much time on their hands get in trouble. That’s the drug mess. Get people off the system and working every day and the drug problem will wane. Obama with ever expanding regulation and taxes just moves jobs away. He should be ashamed of himself. Clinton has already demonstrated she will do as Obama.

Time to take the bull by the horns. Go trump!

ebelmaine

You have a really bad memory….

JJFW

Incorrect. I have moved 2 business out of 10 years ago due to the expansive taxes of the baldacci incompetence. The businesses have done well in New Hampshire. However, each of these is now subject to additional regulation and additional federal taxes.
How many business have you tried to keep afloat? Ever pay AMT or self employment tax?

“Obama with ever expanding regulation and taxes…” Any examples of these??? Name a few.

rightwinga

The Obama Administration is responsible for an unparalleled
expansion of the regulatory state, with the imposition of 229 major
regulations since 2009 at a cost of $108 billion annually. The actual costs are far greater, both because costs have not been fully quantified for a significant number of rules, and because many of the worst effects—the loss of freedom and opportunity, for example—are incalculable.

The effects of this rampant rule-making are widespread. Among them: higher energy rates from the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Clean Power Plan”; increased food prices for both people and pets as a result of excessively prescriptive food production standards; restricted access to credit for consumers and small businesses under Dodd–Frank financial regulations; fewer health care choices and higher medical costs because of the Affordable Care Act; and reduced Internet investment and innovation under the network neutrality rules dictated by the Federal Communications Commission.

ebelmaine

straight outa Heritage spew and a load of BS.

rightwinga

Straight out of documented historical fact! Sorry ya didnt have time to change them..gotta be quicker next time!

ebelmaine

Heritage Foundation spew and out of context at that

Sine Mens Rea

Isn’t that plagiarism to just cut and paste somebody else’s work without citation?

rightwinga

Yes, and I am willing to bet that someone has said the exact same words you just used! Does that make YOU a Plagiarist?

ebelmaine

Hitler warned Germany of all the same “dangers.” They may be there, but his orange-faced clown sure doesn’t have any answers.

Clubba_Lang

Best part of the last night was Ivanka.

PortlandGenXer

There is simply nothing more divisive than today’s “Republican” party.

Such a shame.

rightwinga

How so?

esous

Just read your own posts and that will give you your answer!!!

Ed Simmons

Winga can’t read!! Don’t be silly.

Thistle

With Sanders off the stage and the ballot, the choice is clear. Trump is the only candidate who has any chance at all of changing the status quo in Washington.

In a national poll released just a couple of days ago, only 24% of likely voters believes the country is headed in the right direction. How delusional does someone have to be to think Hillary will change the direction?

If anyone would be truly non-partisan for a moment and listen to the things Trump has said, they would hear a lot of the same kinds of positions that had were laid out by Bernie Sanders. Look at Trump’s position on NATO and then try to claim that is a Republican position.

Trump is not the Republican that leftists have been railing against for years and that is why leftists have had to resort to personal attacks on the man himself. That is also why the Republican establishment is so scared of him.

A candidate who intimidates both the left and the right might be just what this country needs now.

rightwinga

We all now know what Trumps vision for the United States is.

What is crooked hillary’s vision? Thats the question!

ebelmaine

Trump is as crooked as they come…. don’t be fooled by the orange clown makeup and bozo hair.

rightwinga

Thanks for that non-answer!
Wanna try again?

ebelmaine

Trump U………..

rightwinga

Another liberal out of ideas!

ebelmaine

Trump U…. go look it up

Rangeley_BLKBEAR

hillary’s apparatus managed to rig the primaries and steal one from Sanders, they will do the same thing to Trump. get ready for another Clinton White House.

Ed Simmons

Convention is next week. Stay tuned. I assume you won’t be watching?

ebelmaine

Trump now wants to dig a moat around USA to keep out the baddies…..

rightwinga

No…Its a wall!
No moats…global warming has dried up all the water…remember?

ebelmaine

It’s called CLIMATE CHANGE and has been for decades, remember?

CleanUpME

Trump made a very good speech. The final outcome will rest on how well he can sell his agenda and the debates.
People have had enough of the demonization of both candidates. They want to see results and since Hillary Clinton runs as Barack Obama’s third term those results are minimal.
Trump is the man to vote for if you are sick of the morass and waste and ineptitude in Washington and want a fresh approach. He’s not perfect, no one is, but if he doesn’t suit the need he can be removed in four years.

highpeaksman

“Trump is the man to vote for if you are sick”
Agree, couldn’t have said it better !

rightwinga

Well lets see…Trump believes in our 2nd amendment…crooked hillary does not and wants it removed!

I would say, based on that fact alone, Trump is more of a constitutionalist than crooked hillary!

KennebunkportPatriot

Trump also believes in the VIIIth, IXth, Xth, XIth and XIIth Articles. He told Congress as much. Problem is, those do not exist.

Trump is a Constitutional idiot.

rightwinga

Taking out of context …again!

KennebunkportPatriot

Heh heh.

Der Drumpfenliar hasn’t a clue about how our government works. He will be so out of place – like LePage on ‘roids.

rightwinga

WIKILEAKS Releases 20,000 Hacked DNC Emails…
This is an amazing peek behind the crooked hillary regime! It is really quite insightful to read first hand the behind the scenes evil thinking and debauchery of the democrat party!

Why you folks keep electing democrats who are here for no other reason but to line their own pockets is disturbing!

ebelmaine

Read them all, didya? Why do you sludge people keep voting for chicken-hawk FASCISTS?

KennebunkportPatriot

Just a few weeks ago, Trump went to Capital Hill to address GOP legistaltors, to convince them of his viability as a constitutional president. He then told them that there are 12 Articles to that document that he would defend. Problem is, there are only 7. Trump has zero knowledge of the Constitution.

ParForTheCourse

Herr Trumpf and his new found BFF and idol Putin just waiting to establish a new world order, kind of the same pipe dreams cooked up by Mussolini (another favorite of Trumpf) and Hitler back in the 1930’s, what could possibly go wrong?

JFK

All left wing propaganda, your research results are weak to Nill

The proof is in the pudding

JFK

Any therapist would diagnose you as very jealous and envious based on your comments

JFK

Not true, as I mentioned in the thread, many are no longer eligible to draw unemployment so these people are not included in the list. A misleading way for the administration to not tell the entire truth. Factor in these people and we are at an all time high

Inner city street crime is at an all time high!

More cop killings know than in our history

I could go on but it’s too depressing

hjs3

Sadly FACTS are just a wee bit elusive to this candidate…

highpeaksman

Trump, the reality tv star show boat has spoken.
I wouldn’t trust that guy as far as I could throw him and
that ain’t very far.
What is wrong with people these days anyway ?
Having a trump as president is akin to having lepage as governor,
NOT GOOD ! These guys are con men and LOSERS !